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Whitaker Center Programs

Are you ready to discover the wonder of Whitaker? Search our programs below:

Mini Explorers

Grades Pre-K to K

Tiny Tots

Ages 2 and Under

This “Grown-up and Me” toddler program is a launchpad for first-time science exploration! We sing, read, and explore our way through themed activities designed for interaction between the tots and their grown-ups in our KidsPlace exhibit. Guests must register at least 24 hours in advance.

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Little Learners

Grades K to 2

This interactive program features lots of fun, hands-on activities for 3, 4, and 5-year-olds alongside their grown-ups. Families experiment, explore, sing, and create around rotating STEAM themes in our KidsPlace exhibit. Guests must register at least 24 hours in advance.

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Junior Labsters

Grades K to 2

In Junior Labsters, young learners and their grown-ups team up to tackle exciting STEAM challenges and unleash their creativity through hands-on art and science activities. Together, they’ll explore the wonders of the world around us— building, experimenting, and imagining side by side.

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Scout Sundays

Grades K to 12

We offer Scout Workshops for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, AND CUBS! There are a variety of workshops, from robotics to painting. Scouts can register with their troop or as individuals.

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Jr. Scientists

Grades 3 to 8

Girls in STEAM

Grades 3 to 8

Join us for workshops designed for girls in 3rd – 8th grade who will participate in activities that connect with real-world applications of STEAM through design, programming, coding, engineering, and more. Participants explore all aspects of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math – to uncover their curiosities.

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Lab Explorers

Grades 3 to 8

Curiosity meets creativity in this immersive STEAM experience! These two-hour workshops invite students in grades 3–8 to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math through hands-on challenges rooted in the real world. Whether they’re constructing prototypes, analyzing data, or solving problems, students will leave inspired, empowered, and ready to take on the next challenge.

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Lego Spike Robotics

Grades 3 to 8

Unlock the world of robotics in our exciting 4-session program designed for kids aged 9-13. Join us for one session or all four! Each session introduces a new topic centered around robotics. Dive into hands-on learning by building and programming with LEGO Spike, where creativity meets technology.

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Tech Explorers

Grades 3 to 8

Technology is everywhere—and it’s changing the way we learn, create, and connect. In these 2-hour workshops, students will explore a new aspect of technology in each session. Every topic will build problem-solving skills, digital literacy, and creative confidence. Each workshop is hands-on and designed to spark curiosity in young tech learners.

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Girls Who Code

Grades 6 to 12

Join a sisterhood of STEM with Girls Who Code, a place to make new friends and learn about computer science. Computer science is an expansive field that includes a way of thinking, planning, and problem-solving in addition to programming. This approach, called computational thinking, is the foundation of the Girls Who Code curriculum. Club students don’t just learn how to code, but also cultivate strengths that help them succeed in whatever they pursue, including bravery, activism, curiosity, resilience, passion, and resourcefulness.

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Scout Sundays

Grades K to 12

We offer Scout Workshops for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, AND CUBS! There are a variety of workshops, from robotics to painting. Scouts can register with their troop or as individuals.

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NextGen Innovators

Grades 6 to 12

Girls Who Code

Grades 6 to 12

Join a sisterhood of STEM with Girls Who Code, a place to make new friends and learn about computer science. Computer science is an expansive field that includes a way of thinking, planning, and problem-solving in addition to programming. This approach, called computational thinking, is the foundation of the Girls Who Code curriculum. Club students don’t just learn how to code, but also cultivate strengths that help them succeed in whatever they pursue, including bravery, activism, curiosity, resilience, passion, and resourcefulness.

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Scout Sundays

Grades K to 12

We offer Scout Workshops for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, AND CUBS! There are a variety of workshops, from robotics to painting. Scouts can register with their troop or as individuals.

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But Wait, There's More...

Other Ways to Enjoy Whitaker!

Sensory Saturdays

All Ages

Exhibit lights and sound effects are adjusted, and additional hands-on activities are included to foster a safe, welcoming, and most importantly – FUN – environment for all visitors. Quiet spaces are available during Sensory Saturday events for visitors needing a break. Additionally, sensory borrow backpacks will be available at our Market Street Box Office on a first come, first served basis.

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Birthday Parties

Ages 4 to 12 | Innovation Zone- 8+

Make your child’s birthday one to remember with Whitaker Center’s exciting STEAM-focused birthday packages! Our packages range from fun activities themed around science, technology, engineering, art, and math for kids 4 to 12 years old. From robotics and coding to arts and crafts, these interactive activities are designed to teach, inspire, and put a smile on your child’s face. Plus, our packages include all the supplies, instructions, and equipment you need, so all you have to do is invite the guests and enjoy the show. With Whitaker Center, every party is guaranteed to be a success!

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Field Trips

Grades K to 6

Whether your group plans to explore interactive STEAM-based exhibits housed within our multi-level UPMC Science Center, experience an awe-inspiring documentary in our four-story Select Medical Digital Cinema, or participate in a coding lesson in our PNC Innovation Zone, Whitaker Center guarantees a hands-on day of learning!

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Whitaker on Wheels

Grades K to 5

Can’t make it to Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts? Allow Whitaker on Wheels to bring the science experience to you! We have a variety of options to choose from to fit your needs. From Educator-Led learning programs to Drop-In STEAM activities and even Make and Takes, Whitaker on Wheels offers a wide range of science topics accessible to all ages! Bring STEAM Programming directly to you with the Whitaker on Wheels van, powered by UPMC Pinnacle Foundation!

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WOW! That’s Science!

All Ages

At Whitaker Center, we think fun and learning go hand-in-hand! When school is out, it is crucial to keep children engaged to prevent children from losing some of the academic skills they’ve learned during the school year. Check out this page for engaging activities, like at-home science experiments, that can foster curiosity and reinforce scientific principles in a fun and hands-on way.

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Summer Camps

Grades Pre K to 12

Calling all young explorers, budding scientists, and creative minds! Are you ready for an epic summer adventure filled with discovery, hands-on learning, and endless fun? Then prepare to blast off with Whitaker Center’s out-of-this-world Summer Camps!

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Want a sneak peek? Take a look at all the fun we have!

More To Do

Cinema
Showing Through: Dec 31, 2025

T. REX

For over a hundred years dinosaurs have inspired and thrilled audiences, commanding blockbuster status in museums and at the box office. But among them towers a king — a tyrant lizard king. Working with top tyrannosaur scientists, a coalition of natural history institutions, and pioneering paleo and visual effects artists, GSF’s original giant screen production on this iconic dinosaur — and its carnivorous Cretaceous cousins — aims to be the most dazzling and accurate T. rex documentary ever made.

INFO & TICKETS

Special Event
Sep 20, 2025

The Art of Science Benefit

Join us for the Art of Science Annual Benefit, a spectacular evening celebrating the fusion of creativity and innovation! This premier fundraising event supports Whitaker Center’s mission to inspire curiosity and education in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Enjoy an elegant night of interactive exhibits, exclusive performances, and stunning artistic displays that highlight the beauty of science. Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration of discovery and imagination!

INFO & TICKETS

Science Center
Permanent Exhibit

Forces of Nature Exhibit

Through compelling stories of natural forces and environmental change, Forces of Nature is both an exciting thematic area and a relevant science topic that affects everyone’s daily life. The permanent gallery provides guests with the opportunity to experience a variety of extraordinary weather wonders featuring physical “phenomenon-based” exhibits.

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Theater

Let’s Sing Taylor

Let’s Sing Taylor - A Live Band Experience - is the ultimate tribute to the music of Taylor Swift. We can show you incredible things, including the most faithful and lively covers of Queen Taylor’s expansive and sacred catalog. Taking the country by storm, we’re bringing the communal experience of celebrating Taylor’s music in a live setting to Swifties near and far. So, let the games begin. Calling all Swifties to sing your hearts out and sport your Taylor-inspired attire. You can show up at our party any time.

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